MONROVIA (Liberia): In an effort to improve people's livelihoods, the United States African Development Foundation has signed two grants to benefit grassroots cooperatives in Liberia. The grants will benefit the Gbalin Women Multipurpose Development Cooperative Society, Ltd. (GBMDCS) and Glahkon Bamboo Furniture Company (Glahkon).

Commenting about the grants, USADF Chairman Jack Leslie stated, "USADF projects help to raise incomes and create jobs across Africa. These grants will help expand two community groups' capacities so that employees can earn higher wages and more community members can be hired."

Located near Kpor Town in Montserrado County, GBMDCS is an organization of women vegetable producers seeking to improve the social and economic well being of its members and host community. GBMDCS consists of fifteen low-income women who were displaced during the civil strife and recently resettled on 75 acres of purchased land. Currently, members are utilizing only six acres of its land using a pump to deliver water from a small stream on their farm to irrigate the vegetables. However, the stream frequently dries up, keeping GBMDCS from meeting strong market demand for locally produced vegetables. The two year grant will fund construction of five wells and procure five 1,500 gallon water storage tanks, a back-up irrigation pump, training, tools, and office equipment.

Glahkon currently consists of three full-time employees and five part-time employees who produce high quality bamboo, rattan, and wicker furniture in Monrovia. The company uses bamboo as a substitute for timber for affordability and conservation of Liberia's forests. Operations were interrupted by the crises in the country soon after its creation in 2002. Since resumption of operations in 2007, the company has focused on restarting the company and training production workers to ensure that they can consistently produce quality furniture. The operation suffered a severe setback in 2008 when Glahkon's production facility in St. John's River City burned, destroying the facility and much of its inventory. The eighteen month grant will fund construction of a new workshop, equipment, training, and provide working capital. The project will also create 40 to 50 new jobs for low income, unskilled, and semi-skilled workers in the Hartford Ward community in Grand Bassa County.

USADF re-started programming in Liberia in 2006 at the invitation of President Johnson-Sirleaf. Liberia's current portfolio stands at thirteen investment projects totaling approximately $2 million.